Vol. 53, Issue 7

April 21, 2017

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Vol. 53, No. 7

With new plotlines and unique songs, “The Little Mermaid” expands on a classic fairy tale.

New to the Nest Superior Science Pizza Madness Maine South hires Dr. Ben Collins as principal.

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Politics shouldn’t trump sci- Southwords reviews Chicaence in climate debate. goland’s best pizzerias.

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Polo Pros

Youth movement leads boys’ water polo team.

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PHOTO BY PEYTON TURNER

See page 12

NEWS | April 21, 2017

Commencement speech now open to submissions

Elaine Smith & Catherine Coyle

audition to be the Commencement Speaker. Interested students are asked News Editors to submit a written version of their his year, for the first time, the speech to a committee of students student commencement speaker and staff.

“The speeches will be scored on a will not be selected from the handful of Maine Scholars. Instead, the rubric, and that rubric is representative speaker will now be selected from a of one that students would have used pool of entrants from the senior class. in English and Communication Arts,” In previous years, one or more Mr. Messmer said.

Finalists will then be asked to of the Maine Scholars, the top 1% of the graduating class, would speak record their speech for the committee at graduation, in addition to the to review. The speech should be senior class president. As in previous geared toward the audience, focused years, the senior class president will on a central idea, and relevant to the continue to deliver a welcome speech. graduating class of 2017.

A request for a copy of the rubric “Some years we’ve had one speaker,” Maine South Principal was not immediately returned.

The speech must also be four Mr. Shawn Messmer said. “The last couple years; everyone has said a minutes or less.

“We d on’t w ant to e x te n d little something. But that didn’t really equate to much of a speech. That’s not graduation too long because we anything against them, that’s just kind know you all like to get out of there of the way it was. So, when Maine East and go on to family parties and things changed this process, I really thought, like that,” Mr. Messmer said. “[The commencement speaker] will be ‘well, hey, that’s a great way to go.’”

“This will be the third year that in front of the line, with the Maine we’ve opened up the opportunity Scholars, and sit in front on stage next for members of the senior class to to the Maine Scholars and myself. submit a speech and audition to be They get a little bit of honor and an our student commencement speaker,” opportunity to speak.”

In recent years, few of the Maine Maine East Principal Dr. Michael Pressler said. “The past two years, Scholars were willing to give a speech. “ The old selection process the speaker hasn’t been a Maine Scholar, although both speakers mandated that the Maine Scholars were ‘high profile’ students who would work out amongst themselves were quite strong academically and who should speak. I felt it was unfair well respected by their peers. The to leave them alone to try and figure speeches the past two years, in my that out,” Mr. Messmer said. “We opinion, have been the most polished, started to do things like seeing if there thought-provoking, and entertaining was anyone who doesn’t want to speak and then we whittled it down.” that I have heard.”

This new selection process gives There is currently a District 207 school board policy stating that there everyone in the senior class an equal opportunity to should be one give the highest commencement “In my opinion, it isn’t quality speech . speaker at “I really g r a d u a t i o n fair or unfair to Maine liked the way chosen from the Scholars. Rather, it’s it was able to Maine Scholars. really open “ W e h a d recognizing the great the pool of gotten permission accomplishments and up candidates to from the speak, so we superintendent efforts of all students.” to go to change that -Katie Boyce (‘17) decided to that too,” process [and] are probably going to go ahead and make Mr. Messmer said. “Even if you’re a that formal policy [change],” Mr. Maine Scholar, then you still might be able to speak, but there might be Messmer said.

According to the new policy, all someone who doesn’t happen to be in seniors who are in good standing, the top 1% of the class who happens meaning they have no disciplinary to be a great speaker and could write infractions or attendance issues, a great speech that would be really are invited to submit a speech and cool, but they’ve just never had the

PHOTO COURTESY PEGGY PRENDERGAST

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GRADUATION ORATION

Speakers at the 2015-2016 graduation were, as in previous years, selected from the Maine Scholars. This year, Maine Scholars will still be seated in the front, but might not deliver the commencement address.

opportunity.”

The policy change was reviewed by students and administrators before e-mailing the senior class.

“I sent [the policy change] out to the PAC and asked them what they think, and they liked the idea,” Mr. Messmer said. “So we decided to go ahead and implement that this year.”

One of the few points of contention over this new policy among students is that it takes an honor away from the Maine Scholars.

“I think that they should probably ask the Maine Scholars if they’d want to give a speech or not first,” senior Sonali Kumar said. “I know that maybe a lot of them wouldn’t want to [do it] so I think it’s fair if they don’t want to [give a speech] to have that extra person, but they should probably ask first.”

Other seniors agree that the Maine Scholars should still be recognized in some way.

“As long as the Maine Scholars are recognized as Maine Scholars, I think that the change is okay,” Pieta said.

“This way all students are given the opportunity to share about their high school experience and say goodbye to it. I [still] think the Maine Scholars should all give short speeches or have one person give a regular length speech.”

Some students view the change as not diminishing the status of the Maine Scholars.

“In my opinion, it isn’t fair or unfair to Maine Scholars,” senior and Katie Boyce said. “Rather, it’s recognizing the great accomplishments and efforts of all students, while also appreciating the diverse lessons that an entire class has been able to learn from their time at Maine South.”

The fact that changing this tradition will open up the stage to a wider variety of students’ ideas and experiences seems to be a point of agreement for the seniors affected.

“I think that this [policy change] could go both ways,” senior Tara Faraji said. “I do believe that the limitations on who can speak at commencement are constricting considering that currently, only the senior class president and Maine Scholars can speak, which is a very limited selection of students.

However, I do see how this could be problematic if the speech is given to a student who has not been involved at Maine South and is not a good representative for the senior class.”

The speech is meant to unite the Class of 2017, and the selection of the speaker will reflect that.

“I’ve loved my time at Maine South, but more importantly, the speech isn’t about any one person it’s about us as the class of 2017, the growth we’ve experienced, and the bright future ahead of us,” Boyce said.

“I’m proud to be a part of that, and I’d want to show that in writing a speech.”

April 21, 2017 | NEWS

DECA members win at State, advance to Nationals PHOTO BY DIMITRI SPERON

Stephen Pontikes News Writer

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he Maine South chapter of DECA has had ten students compete at the state level this year, three of whom qualified for Nationals.

Chapter Presidents, juniors Dimitri Speron and Noah Fishman, who placed third in Marketing Management and Team Decision Making (MTDM), along with sophomore Natalia Kurowska, who placed third for her Business Growth plan, qualified for Nationals.

The state competition took place in Rosemont from March 9 to March 11. DECA members typically spend several months preparing for their events.

“I probably started preparing for my competition during winter break because Regionals are in late January and State is in March,” said junior David Rygiel, who participated in both the Marketing Communications and International Business Plan events. “For my International Business Plan, I was a top 10 finalist.”

The events are also opportunities for students to network with their peers from other schools.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Presidents Dimitri Speron (left) and Noah Fishman, (right) along with Communications Coordinator David Rygiel (middle) pose with their medals at State.

“I thought the best thing about state was being able to meet so many new and creative people,” Rygiel said.

“I had an awesome experience just being around so many new people and also people from our Maine South DECA chapter."

Several business teachers at Maine South serve as the Chapter Advisers, or sponsors.

“This is my 17th year as a sponsor,” Mr. Beer said. “Mrs. Kladis is the other sponsor for DECA this year, and Mr. Greguras has been a sponsor in past years.”

DECA's declared purpose is to instruct students in basic business concepts and foster professional relationships between students from different schools.

“Students are tested on their business knowledge on tests and case study problems," Mr. Beer said. "For the case studies, students are given the problem/scenario and then they must prepare and present their solution to an adult judge. Judges are typically local business people. Students also dress in business attire for the competition. This helps students by

preparing them to plan and present business solutions in a professional environment."

DECA is a nationwide organization that has chapters in many high schools and some colleges. This organization prioritizes teaching students about business, marketing, finance, and service.

The competitive portion of the club comes in the form of meets.

Meets happen on three levels: Regionals, State, and Nationals. These events take place at different times of the year in each state.

These feature students, in pairs or by themselves, who will act out certain scenarios and take tests, as well as do writing for some events.

The tests will be scored, the roleplaying evaluated, and the essays read. All assessments will be given a score out of 100.

Students are then ranked by their cumulative performance across all of the assessments and ranked in their respective events.

The national competition will take place in Anaheim, California during the last week of April.

Students from every state in the country, along with some from numerous other countries will attend.

Hawks take flight to raise money for Rett Syndrome research

Lena Pontikes

News Writer fter the tremendous success of last year's school-wide fundraiser for Cure SMA, the school has expanded its fundraising efforts for this year's charity, Rett Syndrome.

Students are instrumental in organizing fundraising activities.

“This year, I devoted a lot of my time choreographing the dance for Mr. Hawk, passing out pizza at Pizza Madness, and attending meetings for planning events and discussing how we can raise the most money for RettSyndrome.org,” said Kristin Woo, the Senior Class President, and member of student council.

Clubs throughout the school have the opportunity to organize fundraising events with their own members, but all of the funds go towards one donation.

Most of the major events, however, are planned and approved by Mr. Berendt, who receives input from students. $32,000 was raised for the foundation, with sports teams, clubs, and

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standalone students contributing to the goal.

This year, the goal was $40,000.

This is the highest fundraising goal in school history. This was inspired by the success of last year's fundraiser, which met its goal.

Setting the goal so high was a strategic decision on the part of the administration to spur student involvement.

This year, several high-profile events have already taken place.

Mr. Hawk and Pizza Madness were very successful and collected thousands of dollars from students, staff, and their families.

The Miracle Minute, on Friday, April 7 raised over $1,500.

The biggest fundraiser for Rett Syndrome this year is Hawkfest.

The outdoor festival was delayed due to weather and moved to April 18. The festivities took place right outside the cafe during all lunch periods.

Every dollar made during Hawkfest went towards the school's donation fund.

PHOTO BY NOAH FISHMAN

HAWK PIED

Senior Kamryn McKenzie "pies" fellow senior Matt Ligas at Hawkfest. As co-president of student council, McKenzie helped plan Hawkfest.

Another big fundraiser is the annual Color Run, organized by the National Honor Society, which takes place tomorrow at noon, and is open to anyone that wishes to attend.

The total amount of money collected for the fundraiser will be announced on April 28 during the annual spring assembly, where many academic, extracurricular, and

school-wide achievements are recognized.

“This last month of fundraising is crucial for reaching our goal and truly showing what Maine South is capable of," Woo said. "I am incredibly proud of all the support the student body and staff have shown this year, but we really want to finish it off strong in order to reach our goal."

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NEWS

| April 21, 2017

Warrior welcomed into the Hawk nest as new principal

News Editor r. Ben Collins has been chosen to replace Mr. Shawn Messmer as the principal of Maine South. Mr. Messmer was recently named the new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Innovation for the district. Dr. Collins will begin his tenure as principal on July 1.

To fill the vacant principal position, District 207 superintendent Dr. Ken Wallace looked for someone with a strong knowledge of teaching and learning, as well as someone with a focus on serving students.

“Good principals need stamina, drive, passion organizational acumen, and a high level of emotional intelligence,” Dr. Wallace said. “It’s the most demanding job in the business, but it can also be the most rewarding.”

Dr. Collins is currently the Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning at Maine West.

“I have always wanted to serve a community as a high school principal,” Dr. Collins said. “When the [principal] position came open, I felt like it was a good fit for what I might offer students, parents, and teachers.”

The selection process included

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two rounds of interviews. Dr. Collins was the unanimous choice of the 17 person hiring committee that included students, parents, staff, and building and district administrators.

“Dr. Collins has several areas of expertise,” Dr. Wallace said. “In his current role as the Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning, he has helped us really improve the quality of teaching and he [also] has expertise in instructional coaching.”

“It was important that we build on the great improvements that South has had under Mr. Messmer,” Dr. Wallace said. “The school has

posted [the highest] Challenge Index in District history and is also poised to top the 3.0 Challenge Index mark next year. We are always looking for leaders that have the vision. [Dr. Collins] is a relatively young man, but he has great talent and passion for the work.”

Dr. Collins is a former music teacher who attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana where he got his bachelors and masters degrees in Music Education. He also has a masters degree in Educational Leadership from Aurora University and a doctorate from Loyola University Chicago in school administration and supervision.

“He is talented musician who has performed with Beyonce and Gwen Stefani,” Dr. Wallace said. “He can also DJ, so we look forward to seeing him at school dances soon.”

Dr. Collins became an educator because he wanted to help students learn in the classroom.

“I loved seeing the moment when something clicked while I was teaching or while a student was working on something,” said Dr. Collins. “I have constantly tried to work towards that every day.”

As the Assistant Principal for

Teaching and Learning at Maine West, Dr. Collins has seen all the school functions and instructional practices in each department.

“My strengths as a leader and collaborator will help the school to continue the excellence that pervades every aspect of the building and I know the teachers are great,” Dr. Collins said. “I’m looking forward to learning from them as we keep doing our best to make the school as good as it can be.”

Dr. Collins is looking forward to new relationships with teachers, staff, students and parents.

“In high school, I was really social, and my principal, Mr. Booth, told me that I would be a great principal one day because I enjoyed getting to know all the teachers and students,” Dr. Collins said. “I want to know everyone, including students, as much as possible. It’s important to me that we have a personal connection with the people in our building.”

The first day of school is one of Dr. Collins’ favorite moments every year.

“There’s so much energy in the building and people are so excited to hit the ground running,” Dr. Collins said. “I’m excited to be a Hawk.”

and modernized infrastructure, and accountable city leadership. He also plans to maintain solid financial practices.

Mayor Maloney has highlighted several specific issues for improvement in Park Ridge.

His goals include addressing flooding and storm water management through a Stormwater Utility Fee and a Stormwater Management Master Plan. He will also continue to focus on attracting businesses to Park Ridge.

The noise issue created by O’Hare Airport is also of importance to Mayor Maloney.

He feels the city can lessen that disturbance through the O’Hare airport commission. Mayor Maloney would also like to continue the city’s efforts in finding an alternative water supply.

Additionally, Mayor Maloney believes in the importance of addressing sustainable practices and environmental concerns.

He plans to do this through efforts such as recycling programs and

encouraging more environmentallyfriendly methods of transportation.

Mayor Maloney has a concrete set of goals he wants to achieve in his term.

“We need to focus on improving our aging infrastructure, continue to manage our finances conservatively in light of the TIF Development Uptown and the challenges it has left for the city in terms of debt,” Mayor Maloney said. “We need to focus on making sure the city is staffed with the right

people in the right places, so that we can work to bring service to the community in new and innovative ways.”

Maloney, with 69% of the vote, won by a larger margin than his predecessor. The previous mayor, Mr. David Schmidt won with 56.3% of the vote.

In this mayoral election 8,146 votes were cast in comparison to the 2013 mayoral election in which 9,182 votes were cast.

PHOTO CREDIT D207

Elaine Smith

NEW IN TOWN Dr. Ben Collins currently works at Maine West. He is set to become the principal this July.

Maloney wins first full term as mayor of Park Ridge Will Brendza

News Writer arty Maloney was elected to his first full term as mayor of Park Ridge on April 4. Mayor Maloney, the incumbent candidate, defeated challenger Lucas Fuksa by a margin of 69% to 31%.

Mayor Maloney, a Park Ridge native and Maine South graduate himself, works in the information technology industry, and has four children, including Maine South junior Conor Maloney. He was appointed acting mayor in March of 2015, succeeding the late Mayor Dave Schmidt when he unexpectedly passed away.

Mayor Maloney has ser ved many roles as an elected official and volunteer within the Park Ridge community for the past fourteen years. Specifically, he served as a Park Ridge Board Commissioner, Public Works Committee Chair, and coach for many sports teams.

He intends to continue working for economic development, safe

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GRAPHIC BY JUSTYNA LEPA

April 21, 2017

| COMMENTARY

Leadership should not be limited to gender Isis Zaki

Commentary Editor

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ithin the last four years, Maine South has seen a spike in female leadership with clubs such as Student Council, Senior Class Council, Hawk Pride, Key Club, and National Honor Society all being dominated by female leaders.

Personally, there is nothing more empowering than seeing women assume these positions and lead our school, which is why I never viewed the lack of gender diversity as a problem.

In an effort to increase male participation and involvement in leadership, Maine South has introduced the Male Leadership Club. Started last year by assistant principal Mr. Dave Berendt, the Male Leadership Club seeks out junior males who have shown leadership potential inside or outside the classroom. In order to join, one must be recommended by a teacher, coach, or counselor before filling out an application.

Once selected, members of the Male Leadership club meet once a week with Mr. Berendt as well as a variety of male role models from around the school, focusing each week on a different characteristic essential to being a good leader.

When I asked about the reasoning behind the creation of this club, the explanation I was given made sense. I was told the leadership of the school should seek to involve and serve every member of the student body.

Meaning every student, male or female, athlete or performer, should feel represented. The creation of the club was intended to lessen the imbalance we have seen in leadership over the past year or two. And while I understand the principle and intention behind its creation, I still question its implementation.

I was able to sit in during their weekly meetings. While it was no shocker to see that the opening icebreaker consisted of the classic push up competition, the rest of the meet-

ing was not what I expected.

The theme for that week was selflessness, a trait I find to be absolutely essential in leadership, something that often goes overlooked or underemphasized.

Mr. Hutter, the speaker that week, talked about how selflessness is a foundation on which character is built and shared the mantra “we is greater than me” as something to be applied, not just in leadership, but in your everyday life. He emphasized the need to switch mentalities from one focused on yourself, to one focused on others, urging the boys to ask questions like “what is my role?” and “what can I do?”

Mr. Berendt also shared experiences and lessons he learned from serving in the Marine Corps about the necessity of selflessness. He outlined the idea of stepping up, particularly when it comes to undesirable tasks, saying, “if no one wants to do it, be the first to stand up, and if everyone wants to do it, be the last," a

lesson that is extremely applicable to leadership at Maine South.

This club is designed to take students who already possess the qualities of a good leader and teach them how to utilize these skills to better our school. And, after sitting in on one of the meetings, I can see that it is, in fact, effective.

To those involved, it is clear that this club was made to fill a “void” within our leadership, but to those on the outside, it appears as if we are supporting and encouraging male students over female students.

To me, the fact that our leadership is predominantly female is refreshing, since in the world at large, the opposite is true.

Creating an exclusive club to counter a trend unique to our school, sends the wrong message, not just to the females already in leadership, but to the underclassmen and future leaders of our school.

If we are going to maintain a club intended to empower individuals and help them realize their own potential, it should be open to all students, regardless of gender, based on the skills and abilities they maintain as individuals.

ing more diverse coursework such as dance, engineering, and criminology—the methodology teachers employ is still lagging.

Maine South is focused on bringing about change. With awards from U.S. News and the Washington Post, we have already set a precedent to follow. But we need to be cautious about how to implement this change.

As a school drowning in standardized rubrics, learning targets, and formative deadlines, the precedent we have set may not yield a bright future.

Behavioral economists recognize two distinct tasks when it comes to thinking: algorithms and heuristics.

An algorithm, as defined in computing, is a set of well-defined, ordered instructions. That is, the problem, approach, and solution are all given together. This form of thinking is exemplified by the work of accountants, data analysts, and laborers.

A heuristic is an approach to solving a problem with no guaranteed solution. In education, these signify two important concepts.

Right now, I see Maine South as

an algorithm. Administrative decisions govern students’ lives more than ever before.

Students are often coaxed into which courses to take, told how to best learn from them, and where they will lead. And the flood of writing examples, detailed rubrics, and formative check-ins even further this standardization of coursework.

Students don’t need a cheat sheet to success. What they need is experience.

Students at Maine South are afraid of being wrong, and so are the administrators. While there have been many programs put in place to mitigate the effects of student errors—from the 40% rule to the new retake policy— this approach does nothing more than put a cloak over the true fault.

Students should embrace error, not because they have the ability to succeed later, but because it is error that leads them to success. It is because of this that I pose a new approach.

Rather than focusing on the solutions to problems—the learning

targets, the project requirements, the essay criteria—let’s focus on the process. Let us allow students to pick the route they travel and see where it leads.

As a student of Maine South, I am eternally grateful for the motivation to learn that this school has instilled in me. There are helpful resources available to students, and new ideas are always appreciated.

But enthusiasm, motivation, and opportunity are not enough to truly prepare students for life after high school.

Routine is not enough. Students need to take their own risks and express their creative side before they are taught otherwise.

As a society focused on innovation, algorithmic jobs are in decline.

Accountants, bus drivers, and even surgeons are at risk of losing their jobs today to new technology.

Heuristic jobs are the future. And if Maine South is truly going to enable student success, a more creative approach to teaching and learning is desperately needed.

"To me, the fact that our leadership is predominantly female is refreshing, since in the world at large, the opposite is true."

Standardization impedes student potential and creativity Sean Stapleton

Contributor reativity is the buzzword in education today. It rings in the ears of educators, administrators, and employers. But what exactly defines creativity is unclear. It is naïve to say that it is merely artistic or theatrical ability, reserved only for those adept at drawing, singing, and dancing. No, creativity is much more universal than that.

Many teachers today do not quite understand the concept of creativity.

They fall into the trap of thinking it is predefined and unalterable, that students either have it or they don’t.

But this is simply untrue.

We live in a world where our lives are not dictated by the jobs that are available but more so by the path we, as students, wish to pursue.

And while our schools are beginning to understand this—implement-

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COMMENTARY

| April 21, 2017

Climate change does not have a political party Louise Macaraniag Commentary Editor

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n recent months, we have seen consistent objection to the reality of climate change coming from our government as both Congress and the White House are under Republican control.

Preoccupied with their political leanings, White House conservatives have failed to properly address climate change by prioritizing the economy over the environment. In doing so, these politicians have failed their constituents.

Climate change is an environmental problem that demands a separate focus and should be managed with a clear perspective, apart from all political biases.

The government should separate economic concerns from environmental affairs, for the health and welfare of all citizens—not just in the U.S. but around the world—is far more significant than the economic liberties of toxin-emitting industries.

The responsibility of Americans is to acknowledge climate change as an existent phenomenon that entails legitimate concern, deviating away from false rhetoric and recognizing the faults in their government.

Though numerous peerreviewed studies show that climate change poses a real threat to the planet, many p o l it i c i a n s c u r re nt l y in office still adhere to their political leanings.

According to N.A.S.A., 97% of scientists agree that climate change is real and that there is a 95% or higher chance that it is caused by humans. In addition to these findings, the US National Academy of Sciences—a nongovernmental institution— claims that human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels, causes excess carbon dioxide to become trapped into the atmosphere, increasing temperature.

President Trump has addressed the issue of global warming with nothing but doubt and disdain, misguiding Americans from the facts and downplaying the magnitude of its effects. The president continues to dedicate a fraction of his platform to denouncing climate change, tweeting, "Global warming is an expensive hoax!" and dismissing it from the nation’s priorities. President Trump has taken his stance and manifested it through his recent executive order that defunds the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA was originally authorized to protect and benefit public

health and welfare through a set of regulations that manages clean air, water, energy, etc. By cutting this program by nearly a third, not only do hundreds of EPA workers lose their jobs, but millions of Americans and people all around the world are threatened by the effects of pollution and global warming.

The core of this executive decision, however, does not only derive from the delegitimizing of climate change, it is also influenced by economic factors. It seeks to protect fossil fuel and nuclear power industries.

President Trump’s intention is to promote “economic growth” within industries that manufacture products using coal. The EPA regulates the amount of greenhouse gases that these industries’ factories emit, and without

these regulations, factories are no longer limited to how much toxic gas they produce.

Along with the defunding of the EPA, President Trump also aims to shield scientific findings of the dangers of carbon-dioxide emissions. The newly-confirmed EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt also denies that climate change is caused by humans. Not only is the Trump administration potentially harming the health of individuals by cutting EPA funds, they’re also presenting themselves as adversaries of the truth.

In a democracy, the protection of individuals should always be the main priority, and the obstruction of truth infringes upon the fundamentals of that concern. Individuals should veer away from the crusade of falsehood for the sake of his or her own wellbeing. The environment is genuine matter, not a distraction that hinders economic growth.

People everywhere are affected by climate change, from the damages of air pollutants to the traumas of natural disasters. Rejecting the reality of man-made detriments to the environment is dangerous for the future welfare of citizens all around the world. The government should prioritize addressing the threatening effects of climate change regardless of political expectations.

replies.

After family and I started a petition on Change.org to fix this issue, Zoosk sent me an email offering to verify my profile and photos and a free one-month subscription to their messaging service.

It’s not the fact that I was refused service to the websites that disappoints me. It was the fact that their automated systems were set to detect and remove anyone who doesn’t fit societal expectations that speaks volumes.

I completely understand the filtering process as a means of not allowing minors onto these sites; however, I clearly acknowledged and explained my condition and was not given the chance to prove my age.

As a senior in high school, I am reaching a critical point in my life in which I am discovering more about

my values and beliefs. I am confronted with the fact that society views me not as the adult I am, but as a child.

I was born with a genetic disorder called Fanconi Anemia (FA) which causes blood failure. Despite the four dozen surgeries I received in the first three years of my life due to other birth defects, I received a bone marrow transplant when I was three years old. As a result of all the chemotherapy and radiation exposure, my growth cells were slowed, leaving me short statured.

Because of this, I have been subjected to a level of discrimination in which I am treated as if I am younger than my age. I have come to realize that this can occur for all types of people who may not fit societal expectations.

When society looks at children, they treat them as if they are naive.

They are seen as though they cannot grasp major concepts that adults typically discover later in life. There are unspoken qualifications necessary to being treated with a higher level of respect and sophistication. I carry myself very confidently and maturely for my age, yet I am still seen as a child.

In d iv i du a l it y i s e x t re m e ly important in our society. In order to move past what society tells us what we should look or act like, one must discover and embrace their own individuality. A true individual is one who rises above social standards to prove that one size does not truly fit all.

Once you find yourself, embrace it. We will be judged no matter what we do, so we might as well do what we love and stand up to anyone who stands in the way.

GRAPHIC BY YARA RUZHKOVSKA

Society's expectations do not define you Jack Timperley

Contributor

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hen I turned 18, I made accounts on multiple online dating websites, such as Zoosk, OkCupid, Match, Plenty of Fish, and Badoo, in hopes of finding a date to prom. Upon doing so, I received emails from most of those sites claiming that I did not appear to be at least 18 years old, resulting in the removal of my profile photos.

This was not a surprise to me at first, but the situation persisted. I emailed a few sites requesting that they reinstate my photos, but all I got in return were automated email

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April 21, 2017 | COMMENTARY

STAFF EDITORIAL

Speech more important than speaker G

raduation represents a pivotal student who will deliver it best, not moment in both our academic and necessarily the one with the highest personal lives. It represents a transition grades.

This new way of choosing a from high school to college, and in a way, a transition from childhood to speaker will hopefully prevent the adulthood. same specific “type” of person from The commencement speech at giving a similar speech each year, graduation has traditionally been and will instead allow for unique reserved for one or more of the Maine perspectives on one of the most Scholars. The Maine Scholars are important days of our lives thus far. a s el e c t g roup of The issue is about eight students The speech should be not as simple as students who who have earned the given to the student “deserve” to give highest GPAs in the who will deliver it best, a speech versus senior class. those who do T h i s y e a r, t h e not necessarily the not. First of all, administration a high GPA is announced that any one with the highest not a guarantee student could submit grades. of good public a speech to be judged.

After two rounds—a first round in speaking skills, nor does it guarantee which the speeches will be read, and a that the student will want to give a second round in which students whose speech. People can still enjoy school speeches were selected will submit even though they may not have done audio recordings—one speech will be as well academically as the Maine chosen. While this process still gives Scholars, and interesting topics and Maine Scholars the opportunity to experiences can come from people submit speeches, it no longer mandates who may not have gotten perfect that they give the address. We support grades.

Furthermore, no one should be the new selection system and believe that the speech should be given by the required to give a speech. The Maine

Scholars also often choose to split up the speech, meaning that each of them gave a much shorter address instead of having one longer four-minute speech. One speech written by one person who really wants to write it would undoubtedly be richer and more inspirational.

This is especially important because the commencement speech should uplift and unify the senior class. The speech is the last opportunity for the entire class to come together.

The Maine Scholars will still be honored at graduation for their hard work the past four years. They will walk separately and be acknowledged at the ceremony, so even if one of them is not chosen to speak, we as a school will not be ignoring their academic excellence.

The commencement speech, while an honor, is above all a final send-off for the graduating class and should be an accurate reflection of the spirit and personality of its students. And it is more important for the presenter to be enthusiastic, passionate, and personable than a student with a perfect GPA.

Senior superlatives insensitive and dated Margaret Cahill Editor-in-Chief

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he school yearbook has always been something that students look forward to at the end of each year. We love seeing photos of ourselves, our friends, and our classmates engaging in various activities and events and reliving our favorite memories. But not only is the yearbook supposed to be a kind of embodiment of our high school experiences, it is also a book deeply rooted in tradition.

This is why many students were understandably upset that this year, the administration decided to remove the senior superlatives.

For students, this feature has been a favorite part of the yearbook for decades, and many students feel wronged that this will no longer be a part of this crucial high school memento.

However, we cannot be blinded by our love of tradition and continuity.

Sure, it can be fun to see whom the whole senior class deems the most attractive, the most athletic, or the most likely to be successful, and this is why the superlatives will still be present in the pamphlet of the senior breakfast. But it’s important to keep in mind why this change is being made.

Many of the categories can be easily interpreted as insults (most gullible, most sarcastic, most likely to be late to graduation, etc.). Others, while seemingly positive, can be used to make fun of someone who is voted for ironically as a cruel joke.

One seemingly simple way to combat this problem without taking the superlatives out of the yearbook entirely might have been to have the list of all the superlatives screened by a panel of students. However, a handful of students cannot be expected to know everything about all of the members of the senior class, nor should they be put in a position to judge whether a vote is a joke or not.

Some may argue that this is just a fun tradition and the fact

that it has been taken the wrong way in a few instances should not mean that it should be discontinued completely. But when we really think about it, senior superlatives, without considering our biases towards tradition, there is no real reason for this archaic feature to exist in the yearbook in the first place.

While it may be fun, the yearbook is ultimately a journalistic publication, and a tradition like senior superlatives that holds no real journalistic merit has no place there.

The pamphlet at the senior breakfast is a far more appropriate place for a feature like this and carries a lot less permanence than the yearbook. This way, if people were hurt by their selection, they could throw away the pamphlet and their senior yearbook would be safe from any memories of ridicule.

We need to let go of the notion that our enjoyment is more important than empathy for others. Getting upset that the senior superlatives will no longer be in the yearbook while neglecting the reasons for this change is insensitive and thoughtless.

Maine South High School 1111 South Dee Road Park Ridge, IL 60068 http://www.southwords.org

Scan this QR code to e-mail Southwords S outhword s is a stu d e nt - r u n publication designed as a public forum for student opinion and balanced reporting on topics relevant to the Maine South community.

Unsigned staff editorials represent the consensus opinion of the Southwords Editorial Board. Personal commentaries represent the opinion of the author alone and do not represent the opinions of the publication nor District 207.

Stu d e nt p ar t i c ip at i on i n t he newspaper, whether through readership, submitting articles, or voicing comments or concerns, is encouraged.

Signed letters to the editor can be delivered to the Southwords office (next to the testing center), given to a member of the editorial staff, or e-mailed to southwords@maine207.org. Southwords reserves the right to edit material for clarity and brevity and to reject obscene/libelous submissions.

Editors-in-Chief

Margaret Cahill Anastasia Dalianis

News Editors

Catherine Coyle Elaine Smith Dimitri Speron

Entertainment Editors Laura Cash Jill Steffen Mark Toledano Features Editors Christina Johnson Tommy O’Connor Emily Rosca Commentary Editors Louise Macaraniag Isis Zaki Sports Editors

James Bednarz Christo Fosse

Photography Editor Peyton Turner Production Editors Justyna Lepa Haley Mech Arden Sasak Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

SouthwordS 7

FEATURES

| April 21, 2017

Hawks debut in Peru Patrick Cichon

PHOTO COURTESY RAJ RAMBHAJAN

Features Writer

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his past spring break, several bold and adventurous students, along with Spanish teacher Mr. José Argüello, took a trip of a lifetime to Peru. Peru is known for its biodiverse habitat that includes everything from the Andes Mountains to the Amazon Rainforest.

“We visited all climates while in Peru: desert, forest and jungle,” junior Raj Rambhajan said. “We ventured from Lima to Cuzco to Aguas Calientes and finally landed in Puno. We saw beautiful beaches, cities and towns in the capital city of Lima.”

To kick the trip off, the students found themselves in the capital of Lima, where they had the opportunity to visit a privately-owned museum that displayed artifacts of the Inca way of life and religion.

“The Incas were known to be the agricultural engineers of their time, and the discovery of the summer equinox came from their vast understanding of astronomy,” Mr. Argüello said.

Additionally, the group stopped by to see the Cathedral Basilica, which was built by the Spaniards. Its architectural style, a blend of both Spanish and native culture, is quite distinct. This educational experience was followed by an island-hopping excursion in Lake Titicaca, where the students got a rare glimpse of

BEEN THERE DONE HAT

(From left) Mr. José Argüello, Mrs. Argüello, senior Margaret Cahill, senior Emily Pasieka, senior Ewelina Laczak, senior Alys Dobbins, senior Pawel Kaminski, junior Raj Rambhajan, junior Nathaniel Cohen, senior Anthony Sikorski, and senior Cole Simner visit Lake Titicaca—home of the indigenous Uros people. The Uros live on islands man-made out of reeds, like the one pictured above.

visit Machu Picchu. Known as the “Lost City of the Incas,” it wasn’t until 1911 that the outside world found this prominent aspect of Inca civilization.

“Machu Picchu cannot be captured with a photo or described by words,” senior Anthony Sikorski said. “It’s astonishing to see how people were able to construct something of such accuracy and magnitude hundreds of years ago without modPHOTO COURTESY RAJ RAMBHAJAN ern technology. The sight is stunning to say the least and left me breathless. It’s one of the seven wonders of the world for a reason.”

The hike to Machu Picchu was just as rewarding. Wayna Picchu rises over Machu Picchu, and those who make it to the very top will find temples and terraces that were constructed and provide panoramic views.

“After a long climb up Wayna Picchu mountain, the view down from the top of the world was worthwhile,” Rambhajan said. “When you looked down, you could see the large expanse of jungle and ruins in the PERUINS This unusual-looking Incan ruin, known as Moray, lies 30 miles mountaintops. We were above the north of Cuzco. While the purpose of these depressions is not yet known, it is specuclouds, on top of the world, in the lated that the Incans used them for agricultural experimentation. This photo was jungle.” taken during a hike the group took around the ruin.

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how the indigenous Uros people live.

The Uros live off the land and use reeds to make boats, known as balsas, as well as their own islands—a few being only thirty meters wide.

“I was taken aback by how similar we are fundamentally, despite our differences,” Mr. Argüello said. “We have the same wishes and same desires from life.”

To conclude the trip, the group hiked up the Andes Mountain to

Beyond the sightseeing and memories, the students returned home with a new perspective. The students came to the realization that a simple task, such as getting clean water, was not so simple after all.

“I really learned how much we take for granted back home,” said Sikorski. “Peru is a developing country and they don’t have access to basic resources. One of the water filtration plants in Lima just recently had some issues. We saw people going to the public fountain multiple times daily to take back water for drinking and bathing. It really made me reflect on how easy we have it and reconnect with the simplest things in life.”

For these students, the trip was inspiring and memorable for reasons beyond culture, history, and language. What the group as a whole took away was that beyond language, they share many of the same qualities with people from other countries.

“Traveling with students is very interesting experience,” Mr. Argüello said. “It’s enlightening to hear what they have to say and learn from their lively observations. While it is a cliché, younger people look at things with fresher eyes.”

April 21, 2017 | ENTERTAINMENT

with my Peeps Chillin’ A Laura Cash & Sydney Mathias Entertainment Editor & Writer

Rice Krispeep Treat Eggs

pril showers bring May flowers...and Peeps. While they are fun to eat right out of the package, there are many other ways to enjoy these sugary treats. Here are some creative and delicious ways to use Peeps marshmallows.

In a large pot, melt five tablespoons of butter.

Add one cup of mini marshmallows and stir until melted. Add ten yellow, ten blue, and ten pink Peeps. Then, add eight cups of Rice Krispie cereal.

Mix to combine. Coat a plastic Easter egg mold with cooking spray and mold Rice Krispie mixture into an egg shape. Allow to cool.

Finally, melt white chocolate chips until fully melted and smooth. Dip the half of the Rice Krispie treat eggs into the white chocolate to finish the “egg" look. Cool in the fridge.

Peep S'mores

Take a graham cracker, a chocolate square, a Peep, and put them all together to make a s'more.

Microwave for twenty seconds so that the sugar on the Peeps caramelizes.

If you want to dress up your Peeps, you can dip them in c h o c o l at e a n d add sprinkles.

Melt chocolate chips on a stove top or in the microwave. Insert a lollipop stick in the bottom of a Peeps bunny, dip it in chocolate, and allow excess chocolate to drip off the sides of the Peep. Place half of a mini marshmallow on the back of the Peep to use as a bunny tail. Lay the Peep on a tray covered in wax paper and put in the refrigerator for about ten minutes or until the chocolate sets.

Make your favorite type of cupcake and add chopped up Peeps to your favorite cake batter. Be sure to use multiple colors to make a confetti effect. Decorate the top with pastel green frosting. Place a bunny Peep on each cupcake and surround the Peep with three to five Easter edition M&M’s. You can make variations of this idea with other types of peeps and different colors as well.

Start by cutting a Rice Krispie treat into five even strips. Then use a rolling pin and lightly roll out the Rice Krispie treat so it's about a quarter of an inch thick. Take the Rice Krispie strips and roll them into a hollow tube, pressing the ends together.

Remove the heads of the Peeps and place them into the hollow Rice Krispie tubes. Finally, wrap the tubes in Fruit by the Foot strips and you have yourself a set of Maki Peepshi.

Make three to five cups of plain popcorn.

Combine two teaspoons of butter and five peeps together in a saucepan. Stir Peeps and butter together over low to medium heat until smooth and continuously stir to avoid burning. Once smooth, pour the mixture over popcorn and combine. Put the marshmallow popcorn on parchment paper until it cools, then break apart the popcorn into chunks.

Chocolate-covered Peeps

Peepster Cupcakes

Maki Peepshi

Peepcorn

Peep-za

For the crust, make your favorite cookie dough and pack it into a pizza pan. Bake for Peep Kabobs 12 minutes at 350 degrees. Then make the PHOT O BY A RDEN Melt white chocolate and frosting by melting 12 ounces of semi-sweet SASA K roll regular sized marshmallows in it. chocolate chips and 12 ounces of heavy cream Then put sprinkles on them. Set the marshmallows and combining them. Spread the frosting across on foil to dry. Next, take a straw and push it through the baked cookie and add the toppings. For the the center of three marshmallows. Top each kabob toppings, take Peeps, peanuts, and M&M's and with a Peep and enjoy. spread them out on the Peep-za.

Decisively Indecisive by Lulie Duerkop

SouthwordS 11

ENTERTAINMENT

| April 21, 2017

Kelly Lennon

Entertainment Writer his year’s spring musical may be reminiscent of a favorite childhood VHS tape, but Maine South’s production of “The Little Mermaid” goes beyond the Disney classic and shares untold stories about Ursula, while also introducing new songs to help develop the plot.

Students and staff have spent their days, nights, and weekends to create this underwater setting. Averaging about three hours each day, the various crews have been working together to create this show.

The construction crew, headed by junior Eliot Bontumasi, had to create a variety of sets for this underwater tale. One of their major projects has been the grand stair unit, which is 48 feet wide.

They have also spent many hours creating Ariel’s Grotto and Ursula’s Lair, which have been built on opposing sides of a reversible set.

Assistant technical director senior Sergio Vivas says it is then the task of the painting crew to “turn the crude looking set pieces into works of art.”

Led by seniors Elizabeth Dort and Lily Dysart, this crew adds to the atmosphere by providing color and beautiful backdrops for the show.

Special lighting effects, as designed by senior Joe Klamerus and the lighting crew, are being implemented to create an underwater feel for the audience as they follow Ariel through her adventures.

“There’s honestly a lot of lighting going in to it, which is highlighting the set pieces,” said Dort.

Detailed props, including Ariel

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(MER)MAID TO ORDER Senior Megan

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Wilcox models her full skirted dress to fulfill her role as Ursula. The cage structure, tentacles, and glistening fabric are what make this costume so special.

12 SouthwordS

and Eric’s wedding cake, have been created by the props crew. They frequently have to reimagine ordinary objects as something entirely new, like turning pool noodles into seaweed.

To ensure that the actors and actresses fit with their settings, the costume crew has created an array of dresses, tails, and tentacles for Ursula’s gown.

Both the hair and makeup crew have been busy designing and creating wigs and specialty looks for famous characters such as Ursula and Flounder.

Head of hair crew, senior Ann Kapustiak, is particularly excited about having the opportunity to create Ariel’s wig.

“This is the ultimate red wig to get to work on,” she said. Kapustiak previously worked on red wigs for Princess Fiona in Shrek and Sandra Bloom in last year’s “Big Fish.”

Junior Grace Goble plays the lead, Ariel, and is aware of the high expectations for such a wellknown production.

“Everyone in the theatre will be expecting magic from us, and that’s what we’re going to give them,” said Goble.

The cast, much like the crew, has been putting in long hours in order to perfect the show. They often spend six days a week rehearsing and running scenes. This process for them began at the end of February and will continue through closing night.

Despite the long hours, an accurate portrayal of the characters makes it worth it.

“My favorite part of this show has been making Ariel into a strong individual who is persistent and will do anything to get what she believes will make her happy,” Goble said.

She believes this is important because this Disney classic will likely attract many young kids to the auditorium, and it is important for them to see strong individuals portrayed on the stage.

In addition to the traditional portrayal of classic character, more of Ursula’s past and personality is highlighted. Senior Megan Wilcox plays this antagonist.

“Ursula is a vengeful, fearless, seemingly heartless villain. She puts on this ma l i ci ous facade for so long i t ’s become her.

For her, glamour is a priority in maintaining this intimidating facade,” said Wilcox.

PHOTO COURTESY KATIE DAEHLER

Under the sea; beyond expectations

CHOPPED Senior Wesley Dziedzic (Sebastian),

left, and junior Tommy Ortman (chef), right, practice the famous royal dinner preparation chase scene. The duo engage in chaotic movements around the kitchen.

One particular challenge that many cast members have been faced with is the use of Heelys. In order to mimic the fluid motions that come with swimming underwater, all of the mermaids and many of the sea creatures in the show are wearing rolling sneakers. This is a unique technical decision that adds a new layer of difficulty to staging.

Another unique technical element of the show is theatrical rigging. This also was used in this year’s fall play, “The Sparrow.” This time around, three characters in the show will be rigged: Ariel, Ursula, and Prince Eric (junior Andrew Failma).

In order to perform such difficult stunts, both the cast and crew are required to go through specific training to ensure their safety.

“This time, rigging is used to look like swimming,” said Dort. “There are three to four different flying sequences to add magic and create an underwater world.”

This production is particularly special for the seniors involved since it is their last production at Maine South.

“It has been a very nostalgic process, knowing this will be my last show,” Kapustiak said.

There is, however, a certain pride at having such a unique show be the seniors’ last.

“Maine South theatre always strives to best itself from year to year with directing, acting and production, but to be quite honest, this one is going to be hard to best,” said Vivas.

“The Little Mermaid” runs on April 21 and 22 as well as April 28 and 29. Each performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. There is a special matinee showing on Sunday, April 23 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available online on Seat Yourself or at the door for $10.

April 21, 2017 | SPORTS

Olson, Thomson lead girls' soccer team Kevin McNulty

PHOTO BY JUSTYNA LEPA

Sports Writer

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he girls’ soccer team had a difficult start to the season. Having to overcome injuries and illnesses early on contributed to an 0-2 record in conference play without having scored a single goal.

The team was without key players in those games including senior Emma Thomson. However, Thomson does not believe those two losses will hold the Hawks back.

“Team chemistry plays a huge part this season because if we are close off the field, it will be reflected on the field,” Thomson said. “So far, the team has been working together really well, but I think our consistency needs to improve a bit.”

The team is confident in their ability to work together on the field.

Coach J.J. Crawford believes that the 1-0 loss at Glenbrook South on April BALL HAWK Senior Emily Olson fights for the ball during a game against Hinsdale South in which the Hawks won 2-0.

4th was a good learning experience Olson has committed to play soccer at the University of Evansville for the fall. for the team. goal-scoring opportunities. leads the team in assists from her de- son why we can’t go further.”

“We played really well in the sec“We’ve shifted our strength to fensive position. Coach Crawford is As they continue through conond half of that game,” Coach Craw- the midfield, and we will continue to aware of the capablities of his team ference play, the Hawks are always ford said. “With that kind of effort, do so as long as it’s working for us,” and hopes that they contribute to a looking to improve. we should be able to compete with Coach Crawford said.

“We need to be more focused on postseason run. teams like New Trier and Evanston.”

The team has plenty of talent “Emma is an immense talent,” consistency to be as successful as we Adjustments made during which can help them achieve their Coach Crawford said. “She never want to be,” Olson said. practice are aimed at resolving the goals. Two players in particular will complains which makes her a very With a game against Evanston scoring issues in the team’s two continue to play soccer in college. coachable player, along with other circled on the calendar for May 4, losses. Utilizing versatile players Thomson will play at Penn State, and natural leaders like Emily Olson. I these girls continue to work hard such as Thomson and junior An- senior Emily Olson will move on to fully expect us to make it to a region- during practice. After that, only four nika Schmidt, have allowed for more the University of Evansville. Olson al, but if we’re healthy, there’s no rea- games remain before the playoffs.

Weather affects girls’ lacrosse season Meghan Breslin

Sports Writer new season for the girls’ lacrosse team began with a new coach, a new schedule, and a new team energy.

The team is now coached by Colleen Speth, and with this new addition came a new schedule. These changes have set a positive tone for the remainder of the season.

For instance, the spring break lacrosse trip did not occur this year, so the players had the opportunity to vacation for spring break.

The players enjoyed a well-deserved 10-day break from school like their fellow Maine South peers.

“The whole team is way more relaxed and enjoyable compared to last year,” senior captain Jessica Buggy

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said. “Getting rid of the mandatory spring break trip encouraged a lot of girls to try out for varsity. Our coach has given us a positive experience, and it has been a really fun season so far.”

This season, the team has a focus on skill work and fundamental skills.

With a fourth-place finish at State last year, the Hawks’ hope is to achieve as much or even more this season.

“We are putting a lot of our energy into basic drills such as shooting, passing, and catching to ensure that we have all of the necessary skills,” Buggy said. “We have really focused on stick work and fundamentals.

Once we have those skills down, we will be able to try new plays and techniques.”

To help build these skills, the team has relied on the captains, juniors Lauren Katayama and Stephanie Schnaufer, and seniors Jessica Buggy and Jamie Rieger to lead the team.

However, the Hawks had an unexpected start due to weather which resulted in cancelled practices and two cancelled games.

“The weather has made it incredibly difficult to prepare for our difficult schedule,” Buggy said. “We didn’t have enough time to practice for these games [against Loyola and New Trier], and we are upset that they both ended in losses.”

This bad weather did not dampen their energy, and the Hawks bounced back with a victory against Taft High

School.

“Taft is a new program, so they do not have the same skill level that our team does,” Buggy said. “They were all really good sports after the game.

They were also very nice and a pleasure to play with. I think they were slightly intimidated by our standing as fourth in the state, and I think that they were surprised to see that we all genuinely love playing lacrosse.”

In fact, the Taft principal, Mr. Mark Grishaber, was so pleased with this sportsmanship that Principal Messmer received a message from him complimenting the Hawks.

“We were honored by Mr. Grishaber’s message,” Buggy said. “It gave us a drive to work hard for the rest of the year.”

SouthwordS 13

SPORTS

| April 21, 2017

Spring Sports Briefs

James Bednarz, Christo Fosse & Laura Cash Sports Editors & Entertainment Editor

Badminton benefits from experienced players Boys’ gymnastics starts off strong despite a large freshman class and returning veterans

This year’s badminton team is fueled by experience and upperclassmen. With eight seniors leading the way and six returning varsity members, the Hawks are looking forward to finishing the season strong.

“The season has been okay,” first-year varsity member junior Julia Economy said. “We had a tough loss against Maine West, but this fueled our team. After this loss, we came back to beat both Maine East and Vernon Hills.”

To prepare for the season, there have been a wide variety of opportunities to sharpen their skills.

“Our coaches host open gyms where we have the chance to progress outside of the season,” senior Grace Janes said.

In her first year on varsity, Economy has adjusted well to the new level of competition.

“The varsity matches are competitive,” Economy said. “Although, it is not very different from past years because I have always tried to play at my highest potential.”

The team relies on the leadership and guidance from their seniors.

“Encouraging teammates during matches plays an integral role,” senior Grace Janes said. “In between games, players coach each other because Coach Muir-Wilson cannot watch all four matches at once.”

Just like any year, Coach Eve Muir-Wilson expects the same level of work from all of her players.

“I expect the team to always play to their fullest potential,” Coach MuirWilson said. “I also expect them to support each other and always treat practices like meets. This year, we are focused on being mentally tough and staying focused on the positives.”

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With most of the veterans graduating last spring, the boys’ gymnastics team is looking to gain valuable experience this season.

The gymnastics team has traditionally had a hard time recruiting, but the success of last year’s team has encouraged more freshmen to come out for the sport.

The team consists of five total players: freshmen Brandon Mei, Evan Arnold, Patrick Talbot, and Dillon Paczosa, and sophomore Adrian Mustafa.

“We started as a brand new team with six freshmen and scored in the high 70’s to start the season,” Coach Bryan Pracko said. “We have improved a lot both individually and as a team and have scored over 100 twice in the last two weeks.”

Despite the lack of experience, Coach Pracko remains confident in his team.

“The youth of the team has been all positive,” Coach Pracko said. “Attitudes are great and all are willing to do what is needed to improve. They are all growing into very good workers and gymnasts.”

With years left for the gymnasts to mature, the goals are set high.

“It seems they are all on board with working through the summer and fall to gain more expePHOTO BY JUSTYNA LEPA rience to achieve our long term goal of winning conference and getting to the state meet within STARE DOWN Junior Julia Economy looks down at the court before serving the birdie. Economy and the next three years,” Coach Pracko said. her doubles partner, junior Hannah Walsh, defeated their Leyden opponent at the conclusion of the match.

Kovacevic leads boys’ tennis team Boys’ lacrosse captains learn from Varsity baseball looks to overcome on the road to State losses to improve before playoffs early adversity

This year’s tennis team is a highly experienced one. With eight returning seniors, the team will be relying on upperclassmen to guide the team through Conference and the state tournament.

Specifically, the team will be looking up to junior Danilo Kovacevic, a state qualifier for the last two years and currently ranked sixth in Illinois.

“The season has been really fun so far,” Kovacevic said. “The team has really bonded well together.”

Just like the past two years, Kovacevic has his sights set high for the rest of the season.

“To make State, I have been working out a lot and conditioning with the team,” Kovacevic said.

“To put it simply, State is a grind. I have to be in great shape to be able to compete in it.”

Kovacevic also has set high goals for the team.

“My expectations for the team are to do better at Conference and Sectionals,” Kovacevic said.

As a veteran on the varsity squad, Kovacevic recognizes his heightened role on the team.

“Being a veteran on varsity is very important because all of the underclassmen look up to you and you have to set a great example how to act on the team,” Kovacevic said. “On the team, I am playing for more than myself. I am playing for not only everyone on team but everyone in the school.”

14 SouthwordS

After an unfortunate season-ending loss against St. Charles East last year, the boys’ lacrosse team is looking to making a deeper run in the state playoffs this year.

The senior captains include Shane Forsythe, Terry Gleason, and Anthony Reda.

“We had a really rough start to the season,” senior Chris Brander said. “We started one and four, and those four losses were close games against good opponents.”

Despite the slow start, there are important matchups coming up to take advantage of.

“We always look forward to the games against Glenbrook North,” Reda said. “There is a lot of bad blood between us; it is always a great game.”

While Reda is improving to make his team better, he also has some aspirations of his own.

“Making it all-conference is an individual goal of mine,” Reda said. “As a team, our goal is to make it in the final four in the state tournament.”

While they are still not an official sport at Maine South, they are confident that they can match the football team’s feat and bring home a state championship.

“We will put Maine South Lacrosse back on the map,” Brander said. “Let everyone keep sleeping. There is going to be a great playoff run.”

Boys’ varsity baseball season is already a third done with their 35-game season. They started with a record of 1-9, but there are many more games to be played. With many returning players, there are a lot of potential for this team to finish the year strong.

“Juniors and seniors alike have an opportunity to step up this year, and if we work well together as a team I think we’ll be able to string together some wins,” senior Andrew Schafer said.

The team is working every day to eventually win the CSL South and conclude the season with a regional title.

“Our strength is the hard-working, dedicated athletes,” Coach Milano said. “They are looking to improve their skills and team play as the season progresses.”

“We are working to minimize the amount of mistakes we make,” senior TJ Bauer said. “We often find ourselves beating ourselves instead of the other team beating us. I am confident that once we figure it out, the Hawks are going to take over the CSL South.”

“Our coach only asks for three things,” junior Nick Corlett said. “Throw strikes, make routine plays, and put the ball in play. When we do those things, the sky is the limit.”

April 21, 2017 | SPORTS

Boys’ volleyball mixes veteran and young talent Jill Steffen Entertainment Editor

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he start of the season included m at c h e s a g a i n s t d i f f i c u lt opponents for the boys’ varsity volleyball team.

Their match against Hinsdale South ended 0-2, despite a valiant effort. Expectations for the team remain high as they were placed in the gold bracket for their first tournament.

With a team of two returning starters and four new sophomores, this year’s volleyball team has a fresh, new perspective.

“The season definitely looks bright,” manager Jeremy Walsh said.

“We have some great seniors to mix in with some new talented juniors.”

The youth, however, does not dictate the amount of talent the team has.

“Even though we are on the young side, I feel we will be right up around the top in our conference and can make a run deep into the playoffs,” head coach Gary Granell said.

Even though the chemistry is different, they still keep their hopes high.

“Last year we were one win away from making it back to State, and I think this team could make another run at the Elite 8,” Coach Granell said.

The unique mix of players of different ages has allowed for an

PHOTO BY PEYTON TURNER

ATTACK

Sophomore Jack Bolz spikes the ball at a home game against Marist High School. The Hawks lost the two games, 25-22 and 25-14.

interesting team dynamic.

“This team is somewhat special because it is truly a nice mix of veteran as well as younger players,” Coach Granell said. “We start three seniors, two juniors and two sophomores.

That kind of a mix really allows the younger players to learn first hand from the upperclassmen. It also gives us a lot of promise for the future.”

Even though they have not played together for very long, all of the players on the team are already starting to

figure out their talents.

“Offense is one of the strengths of this team,” Coach Granell said. “We have guys that can put the ball away on any defense. We are also a tall team which makes for good blocking.”

With a bit of practice and time to allow the younger players to adapt to their new positions and the varsity level, the team will have the potential to have a better lineup for the rest of the season.

“Our strengths are [seniors] Nick

[Sremac] and Paul [Rzepniewski] because they are big hitters,” senior Ian Kidd said. “This contributes to the strong offense that we have, but the defense needs a little bit of work; it’s a little patchy right now.”

There is still many matches left to improve upon their shortcomings.

“Everybody’s been playing in the off season, and the first game was a little rough, but there’s always time to rebound,” Sremac said. “That’s what we did last year.”

Returning members include seniors Kevin Kicmal, Will Olafsson, Marco Pilolla, Jake Rink, and juniors Everett Ebling and Sean Gardiner.

In his first year on the varsity squad, Lenzini recognizes the difference in the level of play between the varsity and junior varsity level.

“Junior varsity is typically comprised of players who are new to the sport,” Lenzini said.

“Varsity players are generally more experienced with the sport.”

With the goal of improving, Coach Deger plans to focus on fundamentals.

“Wat e r p o l o i s a g am e of movement,” Coach Deger said. “When that stops, you’re metaphorically dead in the water. If the team sharpens up their fundamentals, they will break the .500 barrier for the season.”

In addition, the team focuses e qu a l ly on maint aining te am chemistr y when working to accomplish their goals.

“My biggest goal for this year is to cultivate our underclassmen," Olafsson said. "They really have a ton of potential, and it's my goal to to help them with their game."

This season is unique in the fact that Coach Deger will be retiring from Maine South at the conclusion of this season. He has had many fond memories from his years of coaching water polo.

“Our program has been only in existence for nine years,” Coach Deger said. “It’s been exciting to see us move to an over-.500 team within three seasons and then hit two monster seasons going 23-7 seasons four and five. We received some good attention, and I hope that these guys will realize how that was hard fought and won.

When that happens, you definitely know you were a part of something special.”

The players have appreciated the influence that Coach Deger has left

on them.

“Coach Deger has taught me sportsmanship, dedication, and a positive outlook,” Lenzini said. “He is always a positive influence to every single aspect of the team. He’s wise, an incredible teacher, role-model, and friend; he is always there to support us in any way he can.”

Coach Deger acknowledges that he will miss coaching the game, but there is a chance he could coach after retirement. If it is his last season coaching, he is thankful for the memories that it has provided him.

“I will miss the fun and activity of the sport,” Coach Deger said. “I will miss the community building.

Polo is generally very exciting, so the adrenaline rush that comes with each game makes the experience very vitalizing. There have been some wonderful athletes that I have come to know over the years, and I will miss that the most.”

Coach Deger leaves impression on water polo Christo Fosse Sports Editor

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outh is one of the largest themes for the boys’ water polo team this year. However, in his 30th year of teaching and 9th year of coaching water polo, Coach Chris Deger believes the team has the potential to be successful for the remainder of the season.

“We were 13-18 last year, 0-4 in the CSL South,” Coach Deger said.

“We are currently 9-4-1 this year and off to an okay start. This is the classic ‘rebuilding’ year as much of the varsity team is relatively new. To improve that record, we need to win more, and we are heading into the headwinds of the season.”

“We have been doing a decent job this season,” junior Jacob Lenzini said.

“Our defense is very strong, but our greatest weakness is shooting. We are not a very accurate team.”

SouthwordS 15

BASEBALL | BADMINTON | LACROSSE | BOYS’GYMNASTICS | GIRLS’SOCCER | TRACK | BOYS’TENNIS | SOFTBALL | WATER POLO | BOYS’VOLLEYBALL

Girls’ softball looks to senior leaders

Jonathan Ryser Sports Writer

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s spring sets in, the Maine South softball team has much to be excited about with the beginning of the 2017 season. They are coming off a three-way tie for first in conference in 2016 with rival schools New Trier and Evanston.

The Hawks look to build on last season and continue their improvement this year. With senior captains Toni Tortorella and Greta Koepke, and junior captains Sarah Hoffman and Britney Richardson, along with head coach Ms. Pasier, and assistant coach Mr. Bellisario, the Hawks follow an experienced and determined group of leaders.

Unfortunately, three of the first four games have been canceled, delaying the start of the season substantially. Last year’s team set the bar high, but this year they want to be even better.

“We won conference last year for the first time in a while and that was a really big deal for us, so we definitely want to repeat that, and we definitely want to win Regionals this year” Tortorella said.

Following their conference cochampionship, they look to win outright this season and make a deeper

playoff run. The team has been working hard in the offseason, and eagerly anticipate the season ahead.

During practices, the players and coaches stay focused with their goals in mind and put in the work necessary to succeed in their mission.

However, they are not always in work mode as they have plenty of fun during the season as well. One key to this group flourishing on the field is their togetherness off the field.

“As a team we’ll go out to different games of teams from Maine South and watch them play, and we think that is a really big deal because we should all support each other, and hopefully other teams will come to support us,” Tortorella said.

Talking to each other on the field is also a key to success for the team.

“I think communication is always a must in a team,” senior Victoria Ottaviano said. “Our team is quite new.

We have sophomores, juniors and seniors and not all of us have played together before. As practices and games continue, we start to get much better at communicating and continue to work on it which will then lead to more confidence and wins.”

PHOTO BY JUSTYNA LEPA

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME Senior Toni Tortorella connects with the ball during a game against Elk Grove. The Hawks won 15-12.

These events help to create a team bond, and help the players form true friendships with one another.

The softball team will face many challenges this season, including playing New Trier and Evanston.

“We play against Oak Park, and Oak Park won State last year, so that is definitely always a tough game that gets us ready for the rest of our season,” Tortorella said. “We also play

New Trier, which is one of our biggest competitors.”

With plenty of regular season games left to play, including important matchups against New Trier, Evanston, and Oak Park, the Hawks look to prove themselves on the field in these games.

“I look forward to having a great season, making good bonds with my teammates, and just finishing out my senior year strong,” Tortorella said.

Under head coach Scott Sutschek, the team is looking to the future with their next meet tonight at Lyons Township and to the State meet in May, for which there is a live countdown on the team website.

The girls’ team has similar goals for their season, especially after their success last year in the IHSA State Finals. Last season, five girls, Kalina Gardiner (‘16), Casey Bomrad (‘16), Julia Sirvinskas (‘16), sophomore Laura Downey, and junior Olivia Niziolek placed 9th in state for the 4 x 800 meter relay, thereby earning All-State Honors and recording Maine South’s second highest time with their run of 9.22.31.

Despite the graduation of some of these athletes, the team still plans to compete at this level again this season with a lot of returning members to the varsity squad and many younger

members stepping up.

“Our biggest goal for the outdoor season would be to see improvement to the point where we can send many qualifiers to the state meet,” Coach Jeffrey Downing said. “We returned several athletes that competed at state last year and hope to see the same thing this year.”

Coach Downing is encouraged by the team’s progress this season.

“We have had a good start to the season,” Coach Downing said. “We competed pretty well in finishing second in our two invites and finished third at the indoor conference meet.”

This year, two girls set school records in the indoor season. Niziolek ran a time of 5:03 in the 1,600 meter and [sophomore] Katie Dingle broke a 34-year-old record of 5’3’’ in the high jump.

Boys’ and girls’ track have record-breaking seasons Liam Conlon Sports Writer

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ith the 2017 outdoor season in full swing, both the boys’ and girls’ track teams have been traveling to various schools in the area to compete. Both teams saw success during the indoor season and will seek improvement as the season progresses, aiming for a spot in the state championship meet at the end of the year.

“It seems that a good number of our runners are improving lately,” junior Tyler Kuta said. “The indoor season served as a good opportunity for our team to get into shape, and there has been improvement in all levels of the game—from varsity to the freshman and sophomore team.”

The first outdoor meet of the boys’

season was on April 8 at Schaumburg.

The Hawks finished fifth with highlight performances by Reese Jordan— running both the 3,200 meter and the 800 meter—and Liam Pittges who competed in the 300 meter Hurdles.

“We are typically very successful in the indoor meets,” Kuta said. “However, we begin to see real improvement once we enter the outdoor season.”

The two varsity pole vaulters are seniors Danny Powell and Sean Stapleton.

“I want to break 12 feet by the end of the year,” Stapleton said.

Younger athletes, competing for the sophomore squad, showed strength for the future of the program in both track and field events: sophomores Ryan Anderson, Brian Brown, and Tommy Brady competed in Triple Jump, Discus, and the 3200 M race, respectively.